shopping cart

Mars has been dimming from our skies, but its rusty hue is still distinctive to spot. On May 5, a night with a waning gibbous moon, Mars will be in a picturesque conjunction with the open star cluster M44.

Stars
Stars

Stargazing: Mars and M44 – Beehive Cluster – close approach May 5

April 29, 2025

Julie Silverman, Carnegie Science Center

Mars has been dimming from our skies, but its rusty hue is still distinctive to spot. On May 5, a night with a waning gibbous moon, Mars will be in a picturesque conjunction with the open star cluster M44. Known as the Beehive Cluster, it’s one of the closest open clusters to Earth and beautiful to observe. The dazzling blue-white stars will sparkle in striking contrast to the reddish tint of Mars.

Open star clusters contain young, hot, bright stars that shine more brightly than our own sun and survive for a briefer time. Formed as a small collection of stars in the same cosmic gas cloud, the Beehive cluster coalesced when dinosaurs first roamed the earth. In few hundred million years, the stars will have fragmented their loose gravitational connection with each other to travel the cosmos solo.

In 2012, Astronomers discovered Jupiter sized planets in the Beehive Cluster. These gas giants orbiting sun-like stars were found to be super-hot due to their close quick orbits. As the first planets found in this environment of dense stars, Pr0101b and Pr0211b celebrated possibilities of a wider range of conditions to find planets.

To the unaided eye, the Beehive cluster will look like a misty smudge even in the darkest of skies. With binoculars, the brilliant collection will gleam as diamonds in the black velvet night.

Are you as fascinated by the night sky as we are?

Join us for SkyWatch: Carnegie Science Center’s monthly opportunity to catch a glimpse of the stars with professional telescopes. Get a great view of the Pittsburgh skyline as you stargaze with other space enthusiasts. Plus, watch a feature show at the Buhl Planetarium and participate in fun, astronomy-themed activities.

Stargazing: Pittsburgh Goes to the Moon

Stargazing: Pittsburgh Goes to the Moon

This year celebrates the 56th anniversary of the first moon landing. On July 20, the world watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the surface of the moon. Home > Blog [sv...

Stargazing: Noctilucent Clouds

Stargazing: Noctilucent Clouds

Summer is the season to spot rare and luminescent Noctilucent Clouds. From May to early August, these ethereal clouds show their best displays thirty minutes after sunset or before sunrise. Home > Blog [acf...

Stargazing: Mercury spotting from June 12-29

Stargazing: Mercury spotting from June 12-29

Mercury watchers will have several chances to view this elusive planet over the next two weeks. Since Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, there is a small window in which it is visible. Home > Blog [acf...

Stargazing: Leo the Lion still regal in the sky

Stargazing: Leo the Lion still regal in the sky

Leo the Lion, the twelfth largest constellation, still regally rules the springtime heavens. It is easy to spot the distinctive backward question mark shape that creates the mane of Leo. A triangle of stars forms the hindquarters. Home > Blog [acf...